Hope we can have a top name jockey - or Richard Kingscote - to announce in this slot soon so stay tuned people . . .

DONALD McCAIN has his sights set on red-hot Arkle Trophy favourite Simonsig after Overturn maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a smooth success at Doncaster yesterday.

Last year’s Champion Hurdle runner-up was superb on his debut at Sandown, but his education over the bigger obstacles has been kept in check due to the recent wet weather. But he returned to track 60 days after Sandown to land the 1stsecuritysolutions.co.uk Novices’ Chase is excellent fashion.

Despite not jumping quite so spectacularly, Overturn was still impressive and scored by 23 lengths under stable jockey Jason Maguire. And his Cheshire-based trainer is now quietly confident about taking on Nicky Henderson’s star novice at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Simonsig is William Hill’s evens favourite for the Arkle, but McCain believes Overturn – a best-priced 7-1 with Paddy Power – will give him a run for his money.

The Liverpool-born trainer said: “He’s had a scoot round and he’s quickened it turning in – that’s Overturn.

“He jumped straight which was good to see as he had a tendency to go to his right over hurdles, but there wasn’t a glimpse of it. It was very pleasing.

“The spectacular jumps are great but they’re for the wall, you want them to fiddle away, that’s the thing that pleased Jason as even when he was wrong he fiddled away.

“It’s another step down the road and it’s out of the way.

“He knows more than us about the game.

“He’s a wonderful horse and he does whatever you ask of him, I just hope that we never ask him a question he can’t answer.

“The difference between him and Peddlers Cross is a bit of scope over a fence, if anything Peddlers just lacks a little bit.

“The first day of Cheltenham the ground is usually on the soft side of good and he can cope with that, but he will be a sight to be seen when he’s tapping the planks from the moment he jumps off.

“That’s just him, until you jump off and go as quick as you can from the moment you jump off you won’t see the best of him.

“I respect Simonsig massively but we don’t need to be scared of anyone.

“We’ll come back here for the Lightning (Novices’ Chase on January 26) as it’s back to two miles and you know you’ll get just about the best ground in the country.

“That will give us plenty of time to Cheltenham.”

Maguire added: “I’m delighted with that, he’s jumped super. When all said and done, it’s two-miles-three on softish ground.

“He’ll be better again on better ground when we can let him roll along.”